HEPCA Fights Proposed Oil Drilling Program in Red Sea
By , HEPCA

A leading environmental organisation is spearheading a high profile campaign to prevent an “illegal” oil drilling program off the Red Sea coast of Egypt. HEPCA (Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association) received notification in April 2007 that a British oil company, Burren Energy ( Egypt ) Ltd, has been granted a concession to drill for oil by the Egyptian Minister for Petroleum.

The controversial concession area known as “North Hurghada Marine,” encompasses 242 sq. km of waters, bordering two island protectorates, near to resort of El Gouna, and Shadwan Island. This area boasts some of the finest marine life and coral reefs in the Red Sea, and is home to many endemic species. “We will do anything and everything to protect our rich sea life and environment from bulldozers and oil drills. We won’t give in,” Amr Ali, Managing Director of award-winning HEPCA warned in an interview with national newspaper The Daily Star Egypt on June 12th 2007.

Oil spills have caused considerable damage to the Red Sea coast in the past. “Once we had an oil spill in Hurghada from a project 250km north. Imagine drilling in our backyard. I expect devastating consequences on the environment and animal life,” Ali said.

HEPCA received a letter from Burren Energy Ltd in April, announcing their plans to conduct a seismic survey of the location, and requesting a meeting with HEPCA to discuss “measures the company will take to minimise the impact on the environment.” HEPCA had received no prior notification or consultation by officials. Amr Ali met with representatives of Burren in Cairo to discuss the project.

David Evans, Geologist at Burren Energy Egypt , stated in an interview in The Daily Star Egypt that Burren is only conducting a seismic survey in the area and not a drilling campaign. He is quoted as saying: “We will conduct this non-invasive operation with minimal impact machinery to determine whether there is oil or not. Most of the work will be performed at night to reduce disturbance to the area.”

Amr Ali was stunned to hear in the meeting in Cairo that Burren intends to use heavy machinery, including air guns — a not so environmentally friendly tool — in their surveys of the concession area. There are more than 70 known studies proving that air guns are damaging to marine mammals but Burren continues to play down their impact on the environment. However, the company does seem to have concerns regarding the potential effects on individuals. A few weeks ago, the Red Sea Association for Diving and Watersports (another Egyptian NGO with responsibilities for governance of the diving and watersports industry) received a letter from Burren instructing the agency to keep all divers out of the area during its initial tests.

Clearly the environmental impact of the project is of the utmost concern, but it is also an extraordinarily risky move for the Egyptian Government to grant a concession for drilling oil in an area that is becoming the new crown in their booming tourism industry. The spectacular reefs and marine life of the Red Sea coast attract millions of divers, snorkellers, watersports enthusiasts, and sunseekers every year, boosting the Egyptian economy by more than $7 billion last year. Mahmoud Hanafi, General Supervisor of the National Parks of the Red Sea , predicts not only serious implications for the environment, but a significant drop in tourism. The proposed project has also raised again the issue of coastal zone management in the Red Sea. The sustainability of the area has until now been unsatisfactorily explored.

HEPCA started a major lobbying campaign that has attracted support from hundreds of concerned individuals in the local and international community. Once the testing process starts, teams of activists will be mobilised to raise awareness of the potential impact, and disrupt the project. Amr Ali has also requested that a public hearing take place. Burren pulled out of the scheduled hearing, stating in a fax to HEPCA that they felt “a public hearing is not warranted or required.”

Mahmoud El-Kaissouni, Chairman of the Egyptian Federation of Tourist Chambers’ Ecotourism Committee, alleges in The Daily Star Egypt that Burren has “completely ignored everyone who is being seriously affected by the project,” including several Government Ministers. El-Kaissouni blames Burren’s Egyptian partners for not having a better understanding of the national laws. “Burren’s oil drilling may be conducted outside the protectorate itself, but it will still seriously harm the areas around it, including the protectorates. They are simply breaking the law in this project,” El-Kaissouni added.